Infection Control, Bloodborne Pathogens, and Sterilization
This domain tests how you apply standard precautions, the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), and validated sterilization-not just whether you can recite “clean versus sterile.” New Mexico body art rules expect a written infection-control plan, trained staff, and logs that prove your autoclave works.
Core rules
- Treat all blood and body fluids as infectious. Perform hand hygiene before and after gloves; gloves never replace handwashing.
- Wear gloves for every procedure and change them after contamination. Add eye/face protection for splash risk and a gown when spray is likely.
- Use single-use sterile needles, pigment caps, and cups; never reuse or “save” leftover pigment.
- Place sharps immediately into a puncture-resistant container at the point of use; do not hand-recap.
- Clean surfaces with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with the correct contact time; use barriers on spray bottles and trays.
Sterilization
Critical items such as needles must be sterile. Reusable autoclavable items must be cleaned first, then run through a validated steam cycle-commonly 121°C for 15–30 minutes or 134°C for 3–4 minutes, wrapped, per manufacturer instructions. Monitor every load with mechanical gauges and chemical indicators, and run a biological spore test (Geobacillus stearothermophilus) at least weekly. UV cabinets and bleach soaking are disinfection, not sterilization.
Worked example
A tube shows a color-change autoclave tape but no biological test has been run for two weeks. The load is not release-ready: tape confirms heat exposure, not microbial kill. A passing spore test is the evidence that sterilization actually occurred.
Traps
Assuming gloves allow skipping hand hygiene; calling bleach “sterilization”; using chemical indicators as proof of kill; skipping spore tests because the autoclave “looks fine.”